by Grace BellinghausenSat, April 11, 2026 at 1:30 PMUpdated Sat, April 11, 2026 at 1:32 PMICE agents detained an autistic 26-year-old man in his South Florida front yard Thursday, prompting questions about his safety and care in custody. (Gulf Coast News)HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — ICE agents detained an autistic 26-year-old man outside his South Florida home Thursday, prompting questions about his safety and care in custody.The mother of 26-year-old Gilberto Garcia Cruz told Gulf Coast News in Spanish she rushed outside after hearing her son calling for help:He was screaming ‘Mom, mom. I’m getting in trouble’ and then I ran to him without being able to grab anything to defend him. And when I see a masked man that was twisting him by neck and I told him, ‘What’s going on’ and he tells me it’s ICE, ‘Immigration has me here.’She says her son has autism and has depended on her since birth, describing ongoing developmental and communication challenges that have made daily life difficult without her support.See also: Florida teen’s journey in ICE detention reveals quiet crisis facing child deporteesAccording to the family, agents pinned Garcia Cruz down on Thursday afternoon before taking him into custody.Now, they say they are terrified about his safety while detained.Detainees have previously alleged unfair treatment for mental health disorders, and have stated that isolation has been used on detainees who act out. However, ICE officials have previously said that all detainees receive "comprehensive medical care," including emergency services and access to mental health providers.“Sometimes he has trouble pronouncing in English, and when it comes to Spanish, he also has trouble understanding how to communicate," his mother told Gulf Coast News.His family says Garcia Cruz is enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, better known as DACA, which offers protections for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, and that he is currently in the renewal process.